National Coverage Analysis (NCA) Tracking Sheet

Home Biofeedback For Urinary Incontinence

CAG-00118N

Issue

Biofeedback therapy provides visual, auditory or other evidence of the status of certain body functions so that a person can exert voluntary control over these functions, and thereby alleviate an abnormal bodily condition. Biofeedback therapy often uses electrical devices to transform bodily signals indicative of such functions as heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, salivation, gross muscle tone, and peripheral vasomotor activity into a tone or light, the loudness or brightness of which shows the extent of activity in the function being measured. In the treatment of urinary incontinence, biofeedback is used to assist the patient to improve bladder function through more effective use of his or her pelvic muscles.

The request is for a reconsideration of the existing policy. Currently, §35-27.1 of the Coverage Issues Manual states that home use of biofeedback therapy for the treatment of urinary incontinence is not covered. Such treatment is covered only when rendered by a practitioner in an office or other facility setting. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will evaluate whether the current literature supports expanding the national policy to cover home use of biofeedback for the treatment of urinary incontinence.

Benefit Category

Durable Medical Equipment

Requestor Information

Requestor Name Requestor Letter
DesChutes Medical Products, Inc. N/A
N/A

Important Dates

Formal Request Accepted and Review Initiated
11/21/2001
Expected NCA Completion Date
02/19/2002
Public Comment Period
12/21/2001 - 01/21/2002
Proposed Decision Memo Due Date
Proposed Decision Memo Released
Proposed Decision Memo Public Comment Period
Decision Memo Released
03/01/2002

Contacts

Lead Analysts
Anthony Norris
Stuart Caplan, RN, MAS
Lead Medical Officers
Ron Dei Cas, MD

Medicare Benefit Category Determination Date

Actions Taken

August 14, 2001

Request received.

October 10, 2001

Letter sent to requestor asking for clarification of issues raised in the application and information necessary to complete request.

October 24, 2001

Clarification on points raised in October 10 letter received, as well as information necessary to complete request.

November 21, 2001

CMS accepts formal request after completing initial survey of literature and determining that the request is complete.

March 1, 2002

Decision Memorandum posted announcing CMS's intent to reaffirm the current national noncoverage policy.